INDIGO DI

Falling Waters Scarf Blocked to Finish?

I ran out of pins, I substituted with push pins. I may have to reblock. Hope it dries by the morning.

Lace Scarf, Sock Knitting, and Spotted Turtle

On needles is Falling Waters Scarf  using Buckwheat Bridge Angoras first kid mohair/cormo blend purchased last year at the NY S&W. I love this color and  it's been sitting around far too long. I worry though that the yarn is sooo "sproingy" that it will not block enough to see the lace design. It is a fast knit so maybe I'll have it done for the New Hampshire Sheep & Wool Fair this Saturday.

Right foot, left sock knitted up with Austermann Step. I probably should take note and do the SSK instead of S1,K1,psso on the one side of the decrease, maybe next time.

Poor spotted turtle, found him this morning trying to work his way around the garage. Intending to migrate due east but needing a little help around house and garage. Unlike the painted turtle found earlier this spring, he was quite spunky.

A little re-directing and he was on his way to the marsh.

H is for "Handspun" And Turtles

My handspun from the top left, Still River Mill Mystery Bump/200 yards, two skeins Louet Northern Lights Wool Top/101 yards, and Spunky Eclectic Storm/ 80 yards. I can really tell where I rushed the spinning and plying . But it's mine and I'll have fun working up a couple of small projects with them. I also waxed the cotton drive band with a beeswax candle I had, boy what a difference.

It's Turtle Crossing time again. I assisted this 9" Painted Turtle across the fork in the road.

Happy Guy.

Back From Charlottesville and CT S & W?

The Connecticut Sheep and Wool Fair is next Saturday, May 26.

It's small, but sweet.

Are you going?

 

Peepers Plus Misc. Mix

Spring Peepers have been greeting us afternoon and morn, clinging here to the garage door.

A shot of the Slip Stitch Socks in Spunky Eclectic Nova Scotia.

Owl/Cat on guard, watches turkey take mail.

Favorite houseplant of the month, Hydrangea.

"F" is for Forsythia

Before I left for Florida I brought in some branches hoping they would welcome us back with blooms! Next on the list for forcing are pussywillows.

Tired.. must sleep.

They're in the Big Leagues now...

We'll be in Florida till Tuesday, here, http://blackprong.com/, doing this...

and this...

Aurora, George, Faire (above) and  Lily (ponies) will be competing in three events, Dressage , Cones, and Cross Country. I will be most likely be "photographing", carriage riding, riding, mucking stalls, reading, exploring, cross stitching, and knitting. This area of Florida is predominantly  horse country with not much else,  a bit from the shore. "Hard tellin', not knowin'  " is exactly how I feel about the whole thing. We'll see%@!

"E", Quilting Comes to an End!

I almost thought I was going to loose it on this twin project! I sat down last week to machine quilt this but because I ran into some very frustrating tension issues with the Baby Loch, I set it aside for a another day.  This collection of K. Fasset + fabics had been sitting around far too long. With the forecast  being spot on for a totally rainy Saturday, I sat down determined to get as much done as possible.  I was able to finish all but the binding which was worked on that night while watching Colin Firth in "Pride and Prejudice" and the remainder Sunday while watching the same program but with Keira Knightly, or was it the other way around?  I'm a bit confused with the additional viewing of "Becoming Jane' in mix too!  While I can recommend the first two movies, I really can't the third.

Log Cabin Socks

Log Cabin Socks from Hand Knit Holidays with oh yes, scratchy Irish wool. The pattern is easy and fun, and you can't beat that stitch definition even with undulating colors of this hand dyed.

"E" is for Epic Ski conditions

Ski resorts  are thrilled to be over using the term EPIC! Well, it couldn't have been a better weekend for skiing! We left early Friday before the storm.

Skied all Friday, Saturday and Sunday, see all that new snow?

See that mitten? My skis are sunk below all that white frozen stuff.  While it was at times fatiguing,  it was still invigorating swishing  downhill.

Woolen mittens played an important role in keeping the family digits comfy and warm. We usually double up older pairs, works like a charm, no need for hand warmers.

Wednesday Walk and W.I.P.

I was out today and even jogged down the hilly parts of my walk but I don't have any pictures to prove that it was a dark, dismal, muddy day. I do have proof of my recent "work in progress" with the Irish sock yarn I purchased at the SPA weekend. It's quite scratchy, so different than all the soft, sweet yarns I've been using for past projects. I will have to change to slippery needles too since the yarn just grabs the needles. The colors are drastically different than I would normally select. Maybe I have a touch of what's affecting Kim's choices.

Spa finds, Icelandic fiber and  70%/30% alpaca/merino roving.

I may just finish those socks as a form of frustration relief from machine quilting this twin size quilt. I've only had experience with smaller wall size quilts. Patience is the only way.

Spa Success 2008!

A weekend worth getting away for, for sure! Just now sitting down at the computer I remember all the positives I have come home with. For starters, the obvious, completed spinning and plying of this Louet wool top purchased at Cummington last spring. (I plied the minute I got home). 

I'm also really thankful for what may be considered nothing for some, but to me they were significant and important to mention. Thanks Cheryl, the Reeves wheel engineer, for the fine tuning, and helping me to understand the "ins and outs" on my wheel!  Thanks Monica for your thoughts on what makes a nicely plied yarn. The new  information was directly applied, while plying Sunday. Thanks Carole for "serving up" the dinner plans seconds before my "group angst" was able to surface. For me, I sometimes  have a bit of social insecurity. Thanks Julia for the quick and confident "how to" on Navajo plying and without pause, even after a long day. I put the new technique to use successfully Sunday night. Thanks again Cheryl and Terry for re-issuing the open invite for dinner.  Thanks Kathy for the fiber swap. It's my favorite fiber catch to date. And Thanks Chris for your always friendly way.

The goods will be posted tomorrow, See you!

Dancer, always a willing and patient subject.

While I am with everyone else who enjoyed  the easy knitting and the anticipating color changes with this project, I did not care for the yarn quality itself.  I've had this in my stash for awhile and now I know what had been keeping me from it. There were more than enough bits and nits having to be picked out along the way. Both skeins of yarn had two tied off/knotted ends which which didn't match color wise; isn't this yarn known for gentle color gradations? Good thing I like Russian joining. I am happy at least I used stash yarn, and half of it some decent alpaca/wool. At 10.95 per skein, you're looking at a forty- four dollar scarf if you use all Noro. (That's the New England Yankee in me talking). Maybe I got a bum batch? Well, all said and knit, I still really like the end product, Thanks Brooklyn Tweed for sharing.

Cryin' Out Loud, I missed the "C" posting / "D" to Darwin

I love opening this kind of email at work: Darwin's Orchid in bloom today.

Our Angraecum sesquipidale has bloomed today for the first time.

This is the orchid with an extremely long nectar spur for which Charles Darwin postulated there must be a long tongued moth in order to pollinate but whose existence had never been verified.  The moth - Xanthopan morgani praedicta – was discovered some 40 years later, thus confirming Darwin’s hypothesis.

For scale purposes, this clay pot is about 12" in diameter. The  "throat" of this orchid is about 10" long. The moth hovers about hauling it's similarly lengthy tongue (which is rolled up) and uncurls all of it to sip the nectar. See it in the picture beside the orchid?  By the way, there's nothing like the sweet scent  of orchids blooming  in a February greenhouse.

Maybe some of you caught this program when it was on TV a couple years ago. I did and found it fascinating to see it in person. A couple of years ago the Dept. of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology's Greenhouse attracted botany lovers in droves when their Corpse Flower came into bloom. http://advance.uconn.edu/2004/040719/04071903.htm

It's nice having this greenhouse right next door to my building. Wacky Fun In Connecticut!

It was hard getting a decent shot of this pattern. I still have the other sock to go but the Noro scarf is hogging what little knitting time I have lately.

A, B, C, Craft Closet

The front hall closet is stuffed with most of my crafty "stuff" along with the front hall since painting the family room. As you probably have experienced; emptying , prepping, cleaning, and rearranging a family room can result in a totally cluttered and over stuffed front hall. Where to stash the remains has not been tackled. Most has been reordered back to their baskets. Some will go the the school and for an art class weaving project.

 

Click to see how much wood it holds.  It' will burn a slow burn for two days without attention.

I am trying to keep up with this ABC Along. Since I missed it, I'm going to go ahead and slip in the second B right here with how we keep our home warm and toasty through the frosty and freezing days of winter. ~~~~wood Boiler Baby! I've never lived in a house so warm and toasty, ever! We have an abundance of wood and a abundance of energy from a hubby who loves to stay active....outside ... in the cold.

Just a couple of in progress projects above and an old one below.

This was my first knitted sweater.  It had been missing for many years until I found it on in a back bedroom in my Mom's house when I delivered her curtains last week. It was the cover sweater on a Reynolds Lopi Book and the second I saw it I new I had to knit it. :)

Walk With Me Wednesday, DD, Dancer, and I

We walked , they trotted, we walked, they cantered, we walked, they nudged.

The weather was so gorgeous, sunny, blue sky, fresh air.

Dancer is such a sweet horse and has a special affection for Aurora. We're also in cahoots.

Dancer and I have an agreement. She's to keep A too busy for the boys, for now anyway.

Knitting? That happened.

Spunky Ecletic Skinny Minny, Nova Scotia merino. Saw it in Mass., bought it in Vermont.

I made new drapes for my mom's family room. They're so pretty, had to take a picture, well two.

 

ABC Alonging B! Batik!

I've been taking a monthly quilting class called Batik Block of the Month and Love it! Each meeting we are given a new pattern and the the fabric packet. There are always new techniques and tips shared.  You can see we've been given month five, at the top. I tack the blocks to a quiet corner in the family room so I can glance at them from time to time. I was hoping for some Blues this month and I wasn't disappointed!

HOT Socks

I was on the fence about the colors and patterning of this Lang Jawoll Sock Yarn (132).  I have to say now actually wearing them,  I really like the look of them on. I made sure I matched the yarn when starting the second sock. The handy reinforcing spool of thread that came inside the skein matched up nicely too.

At $13.oo for 420 meters, it was a good buy.

Back to the game :)

ABC Along 2008 A's

I will try to figure out how to put this button to the right, where it belongs, but in the mean time let me start this "Along" with my first A.  I was going to choose  my daughter, Aurora,

but I change my mind, right this minute, see,  and I choose,

Apples, for Apple Pie.

The top of my list of favorite things are fresh Autumn Apples. This fall, I decided  to freeze batches of apples for later use rather than can them. This is the first batch I've taken out and I am curious about how the flavour of the wonderful, tart, fresh, Macoun apples have held up. To drizzle or not to drizzle? I 'll leave that up to the tasters.

Socks and Paws

I'm definetly on the fence about this selection.  What keeps me going is the heel.  I love the heel knitting.

Paws, sometimes so dirty, sometimes so clean.

Yarn I've Never Knit with Before

What cinched the sale of this meager skein of sock yarn was not the colors or patterning. I have several  skeins of sock yarn  that I really, really, l o v e, waiting to be knit. I have no idea of  what the finished sock will look like since the price sticker was completely covering the small photo on the label. The attraction was ... that little spool of reinforcing thread that was tucked inside the skein. Go figure.

Wednesday Walk No and...Baby, It's Cold Outside

Do not click to enlarge because it is Just Not Pretty!  The colors are fine but the knitting is well, UK. This Moorehouse Merino worsted was sale yarn and I really got what I paid for. While the wool is soft as can be and super warming as you knit,  it practically fell apart while working the pattern and the thickness itself varied from super worsted to near sock weight. I had plans of a fair isle pattern throughout but changed it to plain knit with a little texture at the crown to finish it off quickly.

"Baby, it's cold outside,"

"Ooh, Baby it's cold outside,"

Ooh, Baby you'll freeze out there,"

"Brr, it's cold outside,

But it's   Warm - In - Here."

No walking for me today except if you count the half mile or so to my parking spot at work. At least it was uphill. Today the temperature was a neat 5 degrees at the start of work and 14 degrees in the end. I hear it's to be in the 50's on Monday  W W W  What?

Eye Cookie Friday

Wishing You the Best in the New Year 2008!

Merry Christmas 2007

Ornaments finished...

Breads baked and delivered...

Huck allowed in...

Night tobaggon runs made...

Santa watch begins.

Warm Wishes Everyone.

Felt, Yourself

Inspired always by Lene, and motivated by the lack of small gift ideas for friends here and there, I searched and found  my few felting tools and fiber supplies. These "felties"  make for a quick (taking not more than 45 minutes,  no kidding) and totally enjoyable  creativity outlet, the kind that keeps a buzz with a smile. Well I can think of some other ways of getting a buzz and a smile too but this is a knitting blog guys.

Embellishing the other three will happen this evening. I have a couple of dogs and birds in mind too.

Go, Go, Go Felt, Yourself!

Dying to Knit

This is the time of the year that you will find various balls of Lopi or Brown Sheep heaped on the ottoman  and sprawled about the rug below. I like to knit with colors I like. Don't you all? So that means overdying and that's what I did here. The red isn't as obvious but the others are.

Aurora Mitts in progress, looking a little goofy but very warm and quick knitting.

Outside on top...

Inside, below.  Igloo season again!

Wintery Mix of Woolens and Weather

Annual  new pair of Connor Mittens whipped up in one sitting using the gusset style thumb and my lopi leftovers. See how I forgot to add the grey rows on the Con mitt? Duplicate stitch tonight. They look  a little long in hand but they actually fit snug under my skiers wrist cuffs very well.

The ice came Wednesday before the snow today which allowed me time inside at the sewing machine to finish these small project bags. So handy for mittens, socks or hand spindling on the go.

As promised, a  photo of the Keyholed Palindrome Scarf,  a great option when you don't have enough yarn for the traditional long  version.

I have always loved these German Wooden Pyramids and when I saw this one there was no question about bringing it home . Could you have ever resisted? Baaa :)

WIP, FO, and CMC

The Palidrone Scarf pattern knitted from Filatura Crosa Primo yarn I purchased at the closing of the Yarn shop in Avon, CT last year. I only have 2 skeins so this will be a shorter version, more ascot looking. I'll incorporate a  center opening where the other side of the scarf can be pulled through. I'll have to post a photo follow-up photo bc, boy is it hard to explain.

Trapper Hat had practically knit itself last night from a lone skein of  some ancient Briggs and Little BULKY.  Luckily the hat is for a child and a smaller version. I had just enough yarn with barely 2 inches to spare, not even!

CMC you ask?

This Confetti Manufacturing Canine never disappoints. How she manages to withdraw tissue by tissue, the Kleenex from the high shelf on the hutch in the mudroom bathroom perplexes us all. Maybe she has the cats working for her. We find delicately shredded  tissues sculpted into a nice rounded piles in front of the pedestal sink. They are  lengthwise, feathery stacks, not even slobbered on.  Well, maybe not so surprising from the gal who removed every tail feather from Violet's (our parakeet) derriere. How Violet got out of her cage is another mystery. Maybe the cats are in her employ. And yes, Violet has recovered.

She has been Spinning

I have been sufficently inspired after attending my Block of the Month Class and the Nutmeg Spinners Guild on Saturday. It was great to see Chris, Kelly and Dierdra too. The Mystery Bump I purchased may also be an encouragement . So, my new block is finished and the wheel has been oiled.

The White Border Leicester fleece from the CT Sheep and Wool is cooperating nicely with my long draw technique.  "Me thinks" it's future may be blue of course, but what shade and what sweater pattern? There are so many great ideas out there!  Any thoughts/suggestions? I'll double ply and probably get a heavy worsted.

Quilts and Cats

I've spent a decent amount of time lately working on quilting this project. Every block has a different style of stitching, which is easier than it sounds.

This turned out to be one of my favorite blocks, as far as the quilting's concerned.

1992

2007

While our first house was under construction  in 1992, I was afraid a whole host of mice may have discovered  the garage attic as  permanent lodgings. The thought of little, tiny, mice teeth nibbling at  wiring and little, tiny mouse hands stuffing insulation into neat, dry pockets within the walls was a real possibility.  That was when I started looking along the roads for signs for "Free Kittens".  I didn't just want any little kitty, it had to be long, hair, orange Tabby.  Eventually, after a couple of calls and visits, I found what I was looking for and more. It was a litter of three, born in a snow storm that March. The family would be keeping one of them and after seeing this little, grey tabby with a matching orange patch on her face, we took both. They usually don't spend too much time as close together as this, so I had to take a photo. Yes, they have earned their keep over the years.

While Lily looks the image of Feline health, Scout is the opposite. He looks and acts twice his age. His overeating is obvious as his diminished athletic ability. On top of that he has slowly developed three, flexible   "pockets of fluid", under the skin on his back and shoulder. At his last check, the vet didn't seem to think they were anything to worry about since  they don't seem to be painful to him.

Has anyone ever had a similar situation?

Spindle and Horses

I was unlucky... no lucky to follow Terry's purchase of this style spindle at  the New York Sheep and Wool Fest this autumn. Realizing, maybe before she did, that she wouldn't be releasing the spindle to be scooped up by anyone else, well moi. I asked Tom if there were another like it, and from there we planned the creation this one, but with a cherry whorl.  I haven't spent a whole lot of time with it because I've been watching Big East UConn soccer on campus, (they won,) and keeping an eye on this one.

We helped a friend who was sponsoring a jumping clinic at her farm last weekend. An accomplished rider from England was teaching and my daughter was not signed up for a lesson. We were there to help, to watch, to audit.  But when someone wasn't able to make it, and since it was paid for, the teacher asked if  she would like to fill the spot. Well, with one look I saw, I squinted my eyes, I shrugged my shoulders, I OK'd. It was an awesome day.

That's Abby who you've seen before, jumping something she'd not seen before, but with ease. Abby's not really a jumper, but a schooling pony. They both do rather well. Next is Dennis, a warmblood and the Shetland Farley who's being "test ridden" , "put through some paces," to see if they'll do for children's lessons.

Oh yeah,

Happy Thanksgiving!  :)

A Little of This...A Little of That

I work in the Electron Microscopy Lab. at our local university where I have been putting in a fair amount of my time. My hobbies have taken a back seat, but there have been some things going on here in Connecticut over the past month. This pair of  Monkey Socks  was ditched to  finished my Autumn sweater project last month. When I restarted knitting, I'd lost interest in the pattern and reverted to plain knit. This is, however, my favorite Trekking yarn color(78) so far. Yes, more so than any of the  blue shades. By the way, THANK YOU for all the nice comments on my sweater! Really Appreciate Them!

We still spend lots time centered on riding, including driving, clinics, and the Equine Affaire last weekend. This is an early October picture of Lilly. The leaves didn't seem to change here until early November.

   

I also attended my annual Quilter's Retreat in Vermont. This year I focused on finishing the quilts I'd worked on over the past year. Remember my Convergence style  project from last year? It's now properly hung above the computer.  I learned how to "quilt" using my friend's  free motion machine (I think a Baby Lock). Now on to quilt my House_in_the_Woods quilt top.

I was so inspired by everyone's work that I signed up a for another class using Batiks. These are my  new blocks incorporating some different techniques.

 

I'm supposed to be taking in some of my daughter's jumping lesson so more about these next time!

                                              

   

Autumn Sweater Satisfied and "Wednesday Walk With Me"

I'm very satisfied with this finished project! I will refer to it as my Autumn Sweater as the red/yellow reminds of of leaves and the blue, sky. I especially like the neckline, it is just as I hoped.

Today's 4.5 mile walk encompassed the Mansfield Hollow Reservoir.

The old boat house is now used by the Canoe/Kayak Club. This path leads down to the water where,

we were not surprised at the receded water level, but were surprised to see this fellow. Cheers!

Done but not Finished

The knitting is done thanks to the cool weather. The yoke is a little puckery in the back but that's what can happen when you just knit along without a pattern. I've knit plenty an Icelandic, but this gage fell between the heavier Lopi and lighter Lite Lopi patterns.  Most of the knitting was done at Cross Country  meets watching my daughter's team and my son's soccer games. I call this blind knitting. No Pattern, No measuring, No eyes, just knitting by feel. Tacking ends, blocking and buttons to finish is for tomorrow. It will need some steam ironing too as I knit the neckband a bit too tight trying to stretch the last of bit of the charcoal. It will fit like an Icelandic, baggy, bulky, but  warm. Despite the nubbiness, I liked working with this soft yarn, Beaverslide Drygoods merino. I'll wear it as I would a sweatshirt.

That's the start on the race in Vermont with over 1o0 high school girls running. Her team is in red top/black shorts center right. Girl Power!

Placing 16th with seven minute miles,  not bad for the frosh :)

This will be the last blooms for the perrenial sunflower and geraniums. Hello tardy Autumn.

Mittens from Rovaniemi

This is the start of my wristlet from the Rovaniemi Hand Garment class from last week.  It was one of those techniques that allows time to fly by bc you want to see the pattern develop. It was quite easy to pick up, but choosing the three colors took me forever. There were so many beautiful wool selections, and in the end I broke the rules and choose four colors, which according to Susanna was fine but a made things a little more complicated. If I ever finish it, I'll probably adapt it into full mittens, bc i don't think I'll wear wristlets.

Don't tell my front porch planters that it is technically Autumn. They are getting a little leggy but I don't have the heart to tear these annuals out and replace them with mums! OK, back to working on the sweater while watching The Office!

Wednesday's "Walk on Water"

The weather has been much too gorgeous to only walk or even bike so a friend and I  took the kayaks to Bigelo Hollow Reservoir instead. We saw several  double-crested cormorants, including this pair,  up very close and very successful at meeting dinner demands as the swam, dove and resurfaced with sizable fish in their bills. I think they must be young as they didn't seem too worried about us so close and their feathers not dark but still dappled. We also watched Ospreys soar and Great Blue Herons fish.

The area is surrounded predominantly by conifers but some clues of autumn, despite the summery weather were seen.

See you again soon with some posting about the Lapland Hand Garments: The Mittens from Rovaniemi class I took last week!

Ode to Autumn, Up through Color

The idea for this sweater by adapting amotif from an old Rowan book has been on my mind for hmmm, 10 years or so. Making Rhinebeck the deadline for this project will be easy, in fact I have a second sweater that may go on the same deadline if  I don't get lazy!

I'll adjust the design as I go and work out any issues if they come up.  Finding the few pewter buttons I'll need shouldn't be a problem. Inspiration was easy  living amoung all this spectacular color.

BOOKS!

Bright, chipper, vivid, but with the emotional fortitude of cottage
cheese, you make quite an impression on everyone you meet. You're impulsive, rash,
honest, and probably don't have a great relationship with your parents. People hurt
your feelings constantly, but your brazen honestly doesn't exactly treat others with
kid gloves. Ultimately, though, you win the hearts and m